The South Orange County School of the Arts (SOCSA) Foundation hosted its 10th Annual Opera Celebration, on March 24. The donation-supported high school arts program gave 58 Orange County students the opportunity to perform onstage at the Soka Performing Arts Center in a program titled "Notte di Festa." The proceeds from this gala fundraiser support the SOCSA visual and performing arts program at Dana Hills High School.

Before the performance, guests looked at work done by visual art students. Senior artist Connor Donahoo commented on his fascination with "creating his own image" out of nothing, and junior Riley Kummer said presenting his pieces to other people is his favorite part about painting. Sarah Jacques says the SOCSA program gives its students a "leg up" in the art world.

The program prepares students to pursue art professionally, fostering their creativity along the way. Sarah Haghi and her parents agree that SOCSA's strength is in its allowance of individual creativity. Calin Clifford discovered her creative side in a photography class which she took only to fulfill graduation requirements. Now Clifford's work, some of which served as the design for the Opera Celebration program, excites her.

The busy, lively atmosphere in the lobby could only be matched by the excited anticipation of the opera students backstage. In one room, tutus and character shoes covered the floor, as dancers, Jessie Grimes, Jesse Kenduck, Meagan McKim, Rosie Rains and Lucy Reidling prepared for the classical ballet variations in the opera performance. The dancers, musicians and opera students appreciated the opportunity to collaborate with one another. Senior opera singer Desarae Vincent believes that including many art forms in the performance "makes (the evening) more entertaining."

"I never even thought about doing opera, but now it's so intriguing," said sophomore Rebekah Zachary, echoing the fact that very few students had exposure to opera before joining the SOCSA program. Gabe Tuohey, whose twin sister Grace Tuohey is the first harpist ever to play for the school, said he was "kinda forced" by his mother to join the opera production, but since then, he hasn't once regretted it.

Opera requires incredible technique, but the challenge thrills freshmen Carlisle Huntington, Patricia Schuelke and Siena Brown. Nika Convertino found opera to be surprisingly enjoyable and Madison Martinez agrees, saying that the fun facial expressions used to animate the songs are her favorite part.

Ultimately, "it's not the show, it's the process," says junior, Megan Forster. It is this process that Artistic Director Ray Woods says gives students a "professional look at the performing arts life." Master teachers and guest artists, such as the evening's featured performer, professional opera singer Milena KitiÄ‡, add to the students' multi-faceted education. Woods believes that the art the SOCSA students produce has a positive effect on the whole student body. "These (performers) are normal high school students," says Woods, "but the SOCSA program brings something more than normal to the school."

Signaled by a "Let's begin!" from Woods, string players Karen Chiao, Brian Du, Aaron Sy and Eric Thorpe filled the theater with classical music. In the opening number, students in ball gowns and tuxedos lined the aisles of the theater as they sang the "Humming Chorus" from "Madame Butterfly." After a can-can dance number performed by dancers and dancer-turned- singer, Xandy Lopez, the opening soloist Sarah Grimes took the stage. Grimes came to Dana Hills not liking opera much, but she says she "fell in love with the art form."

The showcase ended with the Act I finale of "The Pirates of Penzance." Justin Bright, singing the "Modern Major General," loved performing the song despite the challenge of memorizing so many words. John Carroll, Marisa Di Camillo, Conner Kupferberg and Chris Tusan, along with the rest of the cast, backed up Bright in this high-energy final salute to the evening's opera performance.

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